Hero Xtreme 160R long term review, third report

With the way the last year and a half has gone, some of our recent long-term reports end with us wishing we could have done more with the bike before it went back to the manufacturer. Enough with it. That’s not really the case when it comes to the Xtreme 160R and myself. Since the beginning, I knew this was going to be my primary mode of transportation within Mumbai. Yes, the last report did include a longer highway stint, but truth be told, that was a rare occurrence.

While that might sound a bit underwhelming and unjust to the motorcycle, one has to realise that the majority of buyers in this space are likely going to do the same. A big city has quite a bit to ask of a motorcycle, especially if you use it for every single thing. The most obvious and frequent ask is snarled-up traffic, and the 160R delivers and how! The light clutch, smooth gearbox and cool-running engine result in an effortless experience. Pair that with the 139.5kg kerb weight and easy ergonomics, and you got a machine that feels like it was built for it.

Kill switch that doubles as a starter button works well.

My experience with this motorcycle has been trouble free. In fact, this is my first long-termer that has had absolutely no mechanical niggles. Even after having left it untouched for almost a month when I had COVID-19, it started up in a jiffy. 

And it turns out that the service and spare parts costs are delightfully low as well, and not to mention that the bike comes with a 5 year/70,000km warranty.

Okay, I just realised that I’ve been raving on about the 160R. It, like every other motorcycle, has its shortcomings. The tiny pillion seat expects anyone hitching a ride to be either malnourished or a gym freak. However, that seat has an explanation as well. Here I go again. It’s a by-product of what is a rather modern design. It’s by far the best-looking bike in the segment and even probably a segment above it. Despite being one of the quite compact and unintimidating bikes when it comes to its size, it has a ton of admirers in traffic. I was told at least a dozen times by these admirers that the 160R looks more expensive than it is, and I couldn’t agree more.

Large uneven gap between the tank and seat is displeasing.

Most of my friends live in the suburbs, which meant I was quite a regular on the Western Express Highway. This stretch is plagued by the occasional sudden gorge-like potholes and ignorant drivers. What you need here are dependable brakes and comfortable ride quality, and the 160R really delivers.

I’ve really grown fond of the Xtreme 160R, but at the end of the day, I feel like there’s not a lot more I could have done with it, which is why I have no trouble parting ways. Hero has come quite far in the 10 years they’ve been around, and if the 160R is anything to go by, the future looks even more promising. As for me, onwards to the next motorcycle.